Fan

Art Historical Context

This exquisite 18th-century French fan, crafted in the third quarter of the (circa 1750–1775), exemplifies the opulent decorative arts of the Rococo. Made from gold, mother-ofpearl, and paper, it measures 10 x 19 inches, with the shimmering mother-of-pearl forming the elegant guards and sticks, while the paper leaf bears delicate painted scenes featuring playful putti—cherubic figures symbolizing love and mischief—and graceful women. Gold mounts add a touch of lavish sparkle, highlighting the fan's role as both a functional accessory and a miniature work of art. In 18th-century France, fans were essential fashion statements among the aristocracy, used for cooling, flirting, and subtle communication through a coded "language of the fan." The luxurious materials underscore its status as a luxury good, reflecting the period's fascination with asymmetry, lightness, and sensual motifs. Though the artist remains unknown, the intricate techniques—such as piercing and inlaying mother-of-pearl—demonstrate masterful French craftsmanship from a time when Paris set global trends in decorative elegance. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection, this fan was a gift from Ella Mabel Clark in 1948, from her mother Ella Wolcott Clark Rogers' esteemed collection. It invites visitors to imagine powdered nobles wielding it at Versailles, a window into the refined pleasures of ancien régime society.